Chiropractic for Back Pain

An Overview of Back Pain

Chronic back pain is one of the top reasons people seek medical treatment in America resulting in lost wages and reduced productivity. It affects 8 out of 10 people at some point in their lives, with the lower back being the most susceptible to pain and injury. There are many different conditions that can result in low back pain, including: sprained ligaments, strained muscles, ruptured disks, trigger points, arthritis, obesity, psychological stress and inflamed joints, sports injuries or accidents, and sometimes even the simplest movements, like tying shoe laces, can have painful results. This pain can limit the range of activities that you might enjoy and prevent you from engaging in fun activities with your friends and family, such as playing your favorite sports. Temporary solutions such as heating pads and over-the-counter analgesics that you can use can be found in the market. However, they do not treat the underlying problem of back pain. At the Advanced Chiropractic Relief, we treat the symptoms and the underlying problem of back pain in Arizona for lasting relief.

Types of Back Pain

There are several types of back pain, but the most common types are acute low-back pain and chronic low-back pain.

Acute Lower Back Pain

Patients with acute low-back pain often improve on their own, through self-care, and stay active. If acute low back pain persist after four weeks, you can consider non-drug therapies, including Chiropractic manipulation.

Chronic Lower Back Pain

Long-term use of pain medication usually does not improve functioning for patients with chronic low-back pain. Natural therapies, including spinal manipulation prove more beneficial. Psychological and social factors also contribute to chronic low-back pain. Most patients with chronic low-back pain will not become pain-free so treatment should be more focused on improving function and reducing pain.

Symptoms of Back Pain

With back pain, the connection to a physical source is not always clear. There are people showing no spinal abnormalities on X-ray yet suffer from excruciating back pain.

Muscle spasm

Cramping

Stiffness

Pain in the back

Pain in the buttock

Sensitivity of spine to touch and pressure

Pain after prolonged inactivity

Pain that gets worse and lasts longer

Causes of Back Pain

There are several possible conditions that can cause back pain and can get more serious if left untreated. This is why it is important to seek professional help Our team at Preferred Wellness Center is are experts in diagnosing the cause and determining the proper treatment for your pain.

Herniated Disk

A herniated disc does not always mean that you are going to suffer from low back pain. There are people with herniated or bulging disc who don’t suffer from any painful symptoms. However, to some people disc herniation can be a source of intense and excruciating pain that frequently radiates to other parts of the body. Once a disc herniates, they rarely heal completely. Further deterioration of the spine can often be avoided through regular Chiropractic care.

Sprains and Strains

This is the common source of back pain for the weekend warriors- the type of people who are generally inactive during the week, but get on high-impact activities around the weekend and pushing themselves too much. Before the new week begins, they find themselves immobile and lying on their back and finding the nearest Chiropractor. Over-stretching the muscles or ligaments of the low back can lead to small tears in the tissues, resulting in swollen and painful back.

Stress

When you are stressed, you become tensed and your blood pressure and heart rate rise, flooding your body with stress hormones and tightening your muscles. When you are constantly stressed, the chronic tension causes your muscles, including your lower back, to become sore, weak and loaded with trigger points. We recommend relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing, as well regular exercises to de-stress your mind and body.

Vertebral Subluxation

Vertebral subluxation occurs when there is a disruption, misalignment or abnormal separation in the position of the neighboring vertebrae, resulting in debilitating back pain and inflammation. In the lumbar spine, these usually occur at the transition between the lower spine and the sacrum. Because of the relationship between the spinal column, the spinal cord, and the spinal nerves, vertebral subluxations have the potential to impair proper nerve function.